Tennessee Titans target Cam Ward draws comparison to Patrick Mahomes
As the NFL Draft approaches, the hype around Cam Ward as the Titans' No. 1 overall selection is building.
And with analysts beginning to forecast Ward's potential impact as an NFL starter, whether in Titan blue or otherwise, the Heisman finalist has drawn some lofty comparisons.
That includes that of three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes.
"He reminds me of Mahomes with how he can be unconventional, throw the football from all different kinds of weird angles and then just put a bunch of horsepower on it when he needs to," NFL analyst and former player Louis Riddick said on NFL Live Wednesday. "To me, if someone was telling me that's maybe what you're getting, I'd be pretty damn excited."
WARD: How Tennessee Titans target Cam Ward compares as NFL draft prospect to Jayden Daniels, CJ Stroud
Titans coach Brian Callahan has been candid about the value drafting a franchise quarterback, the only question remaining is do the Titans see Ward as that caliber of a player? Riddick believes Ward can live up to that billing and then some, making him a perfect fit in Tennessee.
"You want a guy who has no limitations and quite honestly (Ward) doesn't have any limitations," Riddick said. "I see this being a perfect marriage on the football field."
In the leadup to the 2025 NFL Draft, Ward has earned plaudits for his arm talent, quick release and his ability to pick out holes in coverage, leading the oddsmakers to label him a -10000 favorite to be selected No. 1 overall.
Ward displayed those strengths at Miami last season, finishing fourth in Heisman voting after he threw for 4,313 yards with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Ward had a 67.2% completion percentage, averaging 331.8 yards per game with a 172.25 passer efficiency rating as he won the Davey O'Brien and Manning Awards.
The Titans secured the No. 1 overall pick with a 3-14 season and a franchise quarterback has been top of the team's list of needs since the start of the offseason, after second-year quarterback Will Levis threw for 2,091 yards with 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions behind an offensive line that drew consistent criticism.
While some aren't ready to give up on Levis quite yet, many analysts like Riddick see Ward as the Titans' quarterback of the future.
Round 1, pick 1
Round 2, pick 35
Round 4, pick 102
Round 4, pick 119
Round 5, pick 142
Round 5, pick 168
Round 6, pick 180
Round 7 pick 241
The 2025 NFL Draft will be held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The first round will begin at 7 p.m. CT on April 24, with Rounds 2-3 beginning at 6 p.m. CT on April 25. Rounds 4-7 begin at 11 a.m. CT on April 26.
When: April 24-26
The NFL Draft will air live on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and NFL Network, while it can be streamed through FUBO. The NFL Draft will also air on ESPN Radio.
How to watch: ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, NFL Network
Stream: FUBO (free trial available)
Radio: ESPN Radio
Harrison Campbell covers sports for The Daily Herald and The Tennessean. Email him at hcampbell@gannett.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccamp.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans NFL Draft target Cam Ward compared to Patrick Mahomes
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